Day 2

Today started off with a tour of the last remaining button pressing hut in Jablonec.  We were also allowed to work the cutting machine which is the second step after the Button has been pressed and cooled down, and the glass slag is cut away from the Button then ground smooth.

After we all saw production at the button hut we moved over to the painting and showroom where we saw the buttons being finished, packed for shipping orders and overruns stored for shop sales, which was where we came in. Buying. Which we did - lots of it. I’m pretty certain we all had fun.

Before we knew it, it was time for lunch. We found a nice restaurant and ordered beer, juice, salads, pizza and other sundry food items before rushing off to another bead pressing factory. We were late because our GPS was lost and I hate it. I should have relied on my own experience and knowledge of the area.




Found the factory, we all bought lots of beads and immediately rushed off to another bead factory where we bought more beads.

We knew the day was successful because of the oohs and ahhs coming from everyone and also all the smiles. The large packages of beads we all bought was another indication.

A quick stop at a jewelry making showroom using seed beads was squeezed in, and personal purchases were made by a couple of people.

But the day wasn’t over as we made one final stop at a small home run factory involving vintage black glass jewelry using nailheads circa 1880. Museum quality items were available for purchase while the owners wife provided us with apple strudel, coffee and tea while we sat in her garden in the shade and relaxed from all the bead buying. The wife even gave J-Me a bouquet of lilacs which she grew in her lovely garden. They smelled so heavenly.

And here are a few patterns of beadwork which we saw at a few of the bead factories:

Then back to our hotel and the day was done! Phew - bead overload.
Every one was on their own for finding what they wanted for dinner or not, some of us had leftovers and much needed rest.

Day 1

Today is the day Guy drives into Prague to pickup our guests from the airport and bring them back to Jablonec and the hotel Zlaty Lev. It rained all night, but this morning it had finally stopped.

Steel gray overcast, from my warm cozy room it looked cold. Still what a great view out of our bedroom.

Made it on time, met up with 3 of the guests, waited for 45 minutes but the 4th guest never showed up, so I left a message with the receptionist at the hotel and we drove back to Jablonec.

We all checked into the hotel, had lunch and made our appointment at Preciosa-Ornela to buy seed beads. And such lovely beads they are. We had to get more twisted long bugles for our customers.

Next we drove to a table cut factory where all went a little crazy buying these beautiful beads they make. I think we all died and went to heaven picking thru all these lovelies.

Lastly, we returned to our hotel to meet with a button painter who filled the conference room with buttons and glassware. This might possibly be getting closer to the end, as she is busy taking care of her aging father for several years to come.

We all retired to our rooms for an hour rest, then dinner at Franko’s.

After dinner we all decided to go bead hunting on the old logging trail we had found years ago. The sun was going down and the shadows getting longer, but we all found lots of beads and buttons scattered along the trail and in puddles. The rain must have made them rise to the surface.

days before the tour starts

We left Sacramento airport Sunday early afternoon, flew to San Francisco International airport, which took 1 hour, then boarded our flight to Frankfurt, Germany for an 11 hour journey after which we caught a 45 minute flight to Prague. After attempting to retrieve our luggage (which was lost somewhere in between), we picked up our minibus car rental, which turned out to be a small SUV 7 seater Renault car, (great for 5 normal sized people and 2 midgets) we will have to make it work, as we could not trade,

we drove 2 hours to Zasada to our Bed and Breakfast Penzion. Exhausted.

We decided to do a little bit of grocery shopping. J-Me loves Cerny Rybiz juice, which is a lovely black currant. We also picked up a bag of frozen strawberry Knedliky which we steamed when we got back to our Penzion. 

The next day, still wearing the clothes we traveled in, we drove around buying art nouveau perfume bottles at a couple of factories we know,

and then on to some filigree at a small factory in Jablonec.

Had a fun day just by ourselves. Later that afternoon our suitcases arrived at the penzion. Yay, fresh clothes and our own bath soap and shampoo.

Wednesday: we had planned to visit castles and just relax, but the day started with heavy rain and spoiled our plans. Two of the castles we had thought to go see, had severe flash flood warnings in those areas. So instead we went antique shopping.

And then bead excavating along a forest logging road we had discovered years before just down the road from Preciosa-Ornela factory.

Saw an old abandoned pressing hut.

Later that afternoon we checked into our hotel, The Zlaty Lev (which means Golden Lion) , in Jablonec, and just loafed around.

Our view from our room at Zlaty Lev. It is still foggy and raining.

Tomorrow morning Guy will drive into Prague to pick up the four tour guests to begin the tour.

Let the fun begin!